Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions please don't hesitate to contact us at 705 422 1888 or info@sgbchc.ca.

HOW DO I GET MY PRESCRIPTION REFILL?

If you need a refill of your medication, please contact your pharmacy. Your pharmacy can confirm if you have any refills available and if not, your pharmacist will send a refill request to our Community Health Centre. Please allow five (5) business days to ensure your medication can be filled, after you request it from your pharmacy. Please do not leave your request until the last day when you will be out of your medication.Direct any inquiries to our Medical Receptionist, 705-422-1888

HOW DO I GET MY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIPTION?

Controlled substance prescriptions include narcotics (examples: Morphine, Oxycodone, Demerol, and Fentanyl) and benzodiazepines (examples: Clonazepam, Lorazepam). Prescribing controlled substances is an important area of practice that requires professional knowledge, skill and judgment. In addition, physicians and nurse practitioners must be aware of, and comply with, all regulatory standards and law. Prescribing is governed by a complex legislative framework, which includes but not limited to: the Food and Drugs Act; Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act, 2010; and Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.

The updated process and steps that the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre has implemented for maximum patient safety for any future controlled substance prescriptions are as follows:

1. You must be assessed by a member of our primary health care team. Your Nurse Practitioner, or our Physician must assess you directly to ensure your diagnosis and treatment plan meet the clinical indications for the prescription requested/required. IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND YOUR APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ADVANCED OR PROVIDED A PRESCRIPTION. MISSED APPOINTMENT = MISSED PRESCRIPTION.

2. A "Treatment Agreement", is required to be signed by all of our clients receiving "Controlled Substances" and your health care provider. Attending your appointment does not assure/guarantee a prescription. Your health care provider will work closely with you to provide treatment options for your presenting problems. These controls are being implemented to ensure the safety of our clients when prescribing controlled substances, and is in line with our vision: To be the healthiest community in Canada where every ONE matters.a. The South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre and its staff or providers will not provide prescriptions of controlled substances if you fail to comply and meet all the conditions of the treatment agreement.b. Random urine testing will be utilized for controlled substance prescriptions. The intent of urine testing is to ensure no other drugs (illicit/illegal) are present other than those being prescribed. If any are found within the urine toxicology screening, no prescriptions of controlled substances by the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre, its staff or providers will be made.c. Absence of medicines that we prescribe means that you are no longer taking the medicine and we will assume that you no longer need itDirect any inquiries to Kelly Steckroat, Primary Care Nurse, 705-422-1888 x 120

CLIENT INFORMATION UPDATE

We have been using our new electronic medical records system for just over one year. We have noticed that there is a group of individuals who have not been in to see their provider since we began the new records system, and others that have been two years or more since they have come in.If you have not been in for a year or more, we ask that you please call us, to confirm your information (address, phone number, health card number) and that you are still interested in our Community Health Centre being your primary location for health care. If you are no longer a client, have transferred to another provider and have not advised us, we respectfully ask that you do inform us so we can update our system and ensure we can serve others in our community.Direct any inquiries to our Medical Receptionist, 705-422-1888

I NEED A FORM COMPLETED

You are not required and we request that you do not make an appointment with our reception staff to complete forms (ODSP, Pension, Insurance, Disability, Canada Pension, etc.). The process we have implemented, to ensure timely completion of your paperwork and maximizing the opportunity for your provider to provide care when needed/required by all clients is:1. Please complete any portion of the forms that require your input or information.2. Please bring the original document/forms to the Community Health Centre and leave them with our reception staff.3. Our staff will process the forms and your primary care provider will complete the forms during their regular administrative timeframe. We try to be prompt and complete forms within four weeks. If your primary care provider needs to see you to finish the forms, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment with your provider.4. After the forms are completed, our staff will make a copy of the forms and mail a copy to you directly and the original will be mailed to the requesting organization. A copy will be scanned into your medical chart for future reference. If you prefer, you can sign a permission form, allowing our staff to communicate this information by email with you. Direct any inquiries to Reception at 705-422-1888.

MEDICAL TESTS & CONSULTANT APPOINTMENTS/REPORTS

One area that we have been working diligently on your behalf is the tracking and status of medical tests and consultants. As a partner in your care, your Nurse Practitioner, or primary care provider, may have ordered a test (CT Scan, MRI, X-Ray, Mammogram, etc.) or referred you to a specialist (surgeon, cardiologist, psychiatrist, etc.) to help in your diagnosis and treatment of your health concern. When you are provided with your requisition, our staff work behind the scenes to ensure a timely appointment is made for you. We ask that you please allow 6 weeks for follow up by our office.Diagnostic Imaging (Ultrasound, Mammogram, Bone Mineral Density) - This usually takes about 6 weeks until we get confirmation of when your appointment will be. As soon as we receive confirmation when your appointment is, a member of our care team will contact you by phone to confirm the appointment along with the details and a copy of the confirmation letter will be mailed to your residence (Note: letters can take up to one (1) week). Consultations (with a specialist) - This usually takes about 10 weeks until we receive confirmation of when your appointment will be. The appointment date to see some specialists can be up to 18 months away Once we receive confirmation when your appointment with your specialist is, a member of our care team will contact you to confirm the appointment along with the details and a copy of the confirmation letter will be mailed to your residence. Please ensure we have your correct contact phone number and mailing address to appropriately contact you. If you contact the specialist or service completing your diagnostic imaging and change the date, please use this as your appointment date, and not the one we give you, if they are different. If you prefer, you can sign a permission form, allowing our staff to communicate this information by email with you.Direct any inquiries to Reception at 705-422-1888.

SCHEDULING AND APPOINTMENTS

Your primary care provider will discuss with you when they would like to see you again. Our entire team is here to serve you, and your primary care provider may refer you to see another member of the care team between visits with them. We are working hard to ensure an appointment with your primary care provider will be made as soon as reasonably possible. We believe in a strong relationship between you and your health care provider, and want to ensure your appointment is with the same provider. Follow up appointments - Booked with your provider on the schedule recommended Same day availability - If you have an immediate health concern, that is sudden, our team is focused and dedicated to ensure the next available appointment will be made available for you. (Example: Ear Infection, next available provider will help you not necessarily your provider). Injections - Our primary care nursing staff play an important role in your health and well-being. One of the roles that you see them do is completing your injections (B12, Allergy, Influenza, Booster's, Vaccination, etc.). To help our staff plan the day better, we ask that you please call our reception and book these appointments with our nursing staff. This is very helpful. Even if you call the morning that you would like to come, we can advise what time is best, to ensure you do not have to wait too long.Direct any inquiries to our Medical Receptionist, 705-422-1888

UPCOMING INFLUENZA CLINIC

Every fall the Ontario Government and Public Health begin a campaign to keep Ontarian's healthy and safe during the influenza season. This year, we will be offering the influenza vaccine at our Community Health Centre. Please watch our website, newsletter for more information. As well, we will be placing updates on our main phone answering machine to keep clients informed and up-to-date as to when we will have the vaccine available for clients of our Community Health Centre.Direct any inquiries to Kelly Steckroat, Primary Care Nurse, 705-422-1888 x 120OUR HOURS OF OPERATIONMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 9:00 am - 5:00pmTuesday - 1:00pm - 8:00pm